Resistor grid and method of supporting same



June 24, 1930. F. T. COPE 1,767,172

RESISTOR GRID AND METHOD OF SUPPORTING SAME Filed Sept. 17, 1923 2Sheet-Sheet 1 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I'm '1.CORE, SALEM, OHIO, ABBIGNOB TO THE ELECTRIC FURNACE OOKPA'HY,

OI SALEH, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01' OHIO assxsroa em um mrrnon or surronrmo sum Application filed September 17, 1923. Serial Ho. 883,275.

This invention relates to electric furnaces and more particularly to theresistance elements for producing the heat in the furnace and has forits objects to provide a resister grid formed of solid metal of a crosssectional shape to radiate the heat rays into the interior of thefurnace at an angle to the furnace wall, and comprising a single barbent into a plurality ofparallel sections so proportioned as to producea radiating surface considerably greater than the wall surface coveredby the grid, means being rovided for supportmg the grld spaced rom thefurnace wall and m a manner to permit expansion and contraction of thegrid without allowing the sectlons thereof to move out of their parallelrelation to each other. Y I

The above and other objects may be attained by constructing the resistorgrid and sup orting means in the manner illustrated in t eaccomparyingdrawmgs, in wh1oh- Figure 1 is a ront elevation of aresistor grid embodying the invention, showing the same mounted upon afragment of furnace wall;

Fig. 2, a section of the grid on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a section of the grid on the line" 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a section of the grid on the line H, Fig. 1; L

Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view throu h the wall showing an endelevation of t e grid and the terminal thereof;

Fig. 6, a perspective view of the terminal stud' Fig. 7, a frontelevation of the terminal;

Fig. 8, a perspective view of one of the su porting hooks;

1g. 9, a similar view of one of the lower spacing hangers; and

Fig. 10, a modified cross section of the r1 I g Similar numerals referto similar parts throughout the drawings.

A portion of a furnace wall built of refractory brick or the like, isindicated at 1 and the resistor grid is formed of a continuous bar ofmetal bent at intervals to produce shape of the grid is T-sha ed, asshown,

in Fig. 3, the base 6 having t e inclined side edges 7, while the flangeor rib 8 is tapered toward its point which is rounded as at 9.

Or the eneral'cross sectional shape of the grid may e substantiallychannel sha e, as shown in Fig. 10, the base 6* and the anges or ribs 8having inclined sides; in either case the grid bar being flanged orribbed to give it strength and rigidit With this cross sectional s ape,the greater portion of the surface of the grid is located at an angle tothe normal plane of the grid, thus radiating the majority of the heatrays into the heating chamber of the furnace at an angle to the furnacewall.

The grid is supported at its upper ed e ortion by the hooks 10 whichengage t e attened portions 4 of the grid. Each hook is provided withthe flattened shank 11 received in the flat socket 12 formed in theupper edge of the adjacent brick in the refractory wall 1, and dependinglugs 13 and 14 are provided at the forward and rear ends of the shank toprevent longitudinfil movement of the shank within the we The dependingstuds 5 upon the lower ends of the grid bars are extended through thesquared apertures 15 formed in the lower supports 16, which are alsoprovided with the fiat shanks 17 received in the notches 18 in the upperfaces of the adjacent bricks. A shoulder 19 is formed at the inner endof the shank and a depending lug 20 at the outer end thereof to preventlongitudinal movement of the sup ort in the wall.

Each extremity of t e grid is connected to a terminal stud 21 which isextended through a suitable opening 22 in the brick wall of the furnace,the inner end thereof being provided with the flat head 23 which iswelded to the adjacent extremity of the rid. g A terminal 24 isconnected to the outer endof each of the terminal studs 21, having thesplit socket 25 which receives the end of the stud, clamping bolts 26clamping the same tightly upon the stud. Sockets 27 are formed in theterminal into which the ends of the cables 28 are soldered or otherwiseconnected.

Owing to the cross sectional shape of the grid and the conformation ofthe same, the

radiating surface of the grid is equal to possible with theusual-constructions now m use.

As the studs 5 upon the lower ends of the grid bars are extended looselythrough the openings 15 in the lower supports, the grid may expand asthe temperature of the same is increased, without causing any bucklingor warping, since the entire weight of the grid is supported from theupper hooks.

The upper hooks engaging the loops at the upper end of the grid and thelower supports engaging the studs upon the lower ends of the grid bars,prevent lateral distortion of the grid under high temperature, thuspreventing adjacent portions of the grid rom comingmto contact with eachother when they are expanded by the heat.

Generic claims for the broad inventions and specific claims for thechannel shaped grid bar, which are illustrated and described but notclaimed here, are made in application Serial N 0. 451,97 6, filed May13, 1930, as a division of this application.

I claim 1. A grid formed of a bar of substantially T-shaped, crosssectional sha e, bent upon itself to provide a plurality 0 verticalparallel portions connected at alternate ends by curved portions, thecurved portions at the up er end of the grid being of substantiall atcross sectional shape and supporting ooks engagmg said upper curvedporions.

2. A grid of the character described formed of a bar of substantiallyT-shape cross section, the side faces thereof being inclined to radiatethe major portion of the heat rays away from the base in the directionof the flange side of the bar.

3. In combination with a wall, a resistor including shoulders at eachend of the supports for engagement with the surfaces of the wall.

In testimony that. I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed inname.

FRAN T. COPE.

